Bills Prepare For Improved Dolphins

This week’s Thursday night game at Miami versus the Dolphins isn’t looked at any differently than any game each week by head coach Doug Marrone.

“We play 16 must-wins, said Marrone. “I believe that. You might not, but I do. That’s the way I’m wired. Every game for us is a must-win because it’s going to have circumstances. We’re a team that’s fighting. We’ve got a great challenge. Every game, no matter whether you’re in it or not, is a must win, in my opinion.”

With that being said, the Bills and Dolphins are among four AFC teams with 5 wins in 9 games (Bengals and Chargers), and are currently behind Wild card contenders like the Chiefs (6-3), Ravens (6-4), and Steelers (6-4). Since Buffalo’s 29-10 home victory over Miami, a lot has changed, including the fact that the Bills quarterback has changed from E.J. Manuel to Kyle Orton, while the Dolphins’ signal-caller has looked like a much different player.

“I just think he’s been more efficient,” Marrone said of Ryan Tannehill, who has thrown for 15 touchdowns to only 5interceptions since a 1-2 start. “He’s just getting better and more comfortable with the offense. I think he’s probably someone better to ask or Miami is probably better to ask about it, but he’s running a little bit more and has more accuracy and things of that nature. Just the efficiency level overall for him has picked up in these last couple weeks. He’s playing well.”

A key to stopping Tannehill is the play of Buffalo’s pass rush, which leads the NFL with 34 sacks. The trio of Marcel Dareus (10 sacks, 4th in NFL), Jerry Hughes (7.5 sacks), and Mario Williams (7 sacks) has been nearly unstoppable for offensive lines, with “structure” and “discipline” helping Dareus reach his potential in 2014, according to Marrone.

“He’s been different,” said Marrone. “I think that everyone understands that there’s been a lot of stuff that’s happened with him off the field, but he’s done a hell of a job. He really has. I think that sometimes those little things – and he’s done those things – can be the fuel for a better outcome on the field. I like to think it’s that.”

Dareus said the results of his play, already besting his career high in sacks from last season (7.5) so far this season “speaks volumes” about he’s set out to do this year.

“You can say so much but words only mean so much when you put your actions behind it,” said Dareus. “I just let my actions speak for themselves and just continue to handle business and focus.”

“I feel like I’m playing the same. It’s just, getting older, the game of football and knowledge of it is coming a lot more to me so I think I’m just taking more advantage of the knowledge I’ve picked up from the time I’ve been in the league and just having fun with and playing with Kyle, Mario, and Jerry just makes it all worth it.”

Though Buffalo had 4 sacks of Tannehill in the early season matchup, Miami’s offensive line has played much better than at any time in recent years, as a line that allowed a league-high 58 sacks last season is a distant memory, as the 2014 Dolphins have only allowed 20 takedowns of their quarterback thus far, which is the middle of the pack (16th). The catalysts have been the new tackle tandem of Branden Albert (left) and rookie Ja’Wuan James right, but Albert suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the loss to Detroit on Sunday to end his season, though Marrone does not think Albert’s absence will necessarily affect Miami

“I looked at the young kid [Ja’Wuan James] and I thought he’s an outstanding player,” said Marrone. “”He was playing right. I thought he was doing a hell of a job at right. They moved him to left last game. I thought he was doing a hell of a job at left. I think he’s a heck of a player. They’ll move the other gentleman out that was out there last week. Granted I think Branden Albert’s a heck of a player that they’ve lost, but they’ll be fine.”

Defensive tackle Kyle Williams said Albert is a “good player”, but the Dolphins will “shuffle guys around”, and it will be “something in game” the Bills “might have to adjust to and be ready for”. But Williams has confidence in the front four getting pressure no matter who lines up for Miami.

“Well, I think for us, up front when we have any of four get one-on-one, we feel like it’s a good match up for us,” said Williams. “We feel like we can get pressure on offenses, on offensive lines by being aggressive and dictating to them so we feel like going into the game, if we can set the tone, we can made it harder on their offense as a defensive front.”

Though echoing Marrone’s statements that each game is important by emphasizing that Buffalo looked at the game gainst Kansas City as a big game due to them facing an AFC team with a winning record just like Miami, Williams acknowledged “you win, the games get bigger, you lose they get even bigger”.

“A lot of AFC teams in front of us that have everything in front of them like we do,” said Williams. “It’s a big game. A Division game. A quick turn-around. We have to be ready.”